What Causes Pedestrian Accidents in California?
Walking is one of the healthiest ways of getting around, especially in the walkable cities of Southern California. Despite this, pedestrian deaths are on the rise throughout the state. Per the California Office of Traffic Safety, pedestrian deaths increased nearly 10% between 2020 and 2021. Nationwide, there are legislative, educational, and enforcement-based efforts to improve pedestrian safety—but none of them seem to have a significant effect. When pedestrians are involved in accidents, they are far more likely to suffer serious or fatal injuries than vehicle occupants. If you’ve been injured by a careless driver, the pedestrian accident attorneys at DeWitt Algorri & Algorri are ready to fight for you. Call us at 855-WINNING (946-6464) to discuss your next steps.
While you can’t change how people drive, you can do everything in your power to keep yourself safe while walking. Knowing the common causes of pedestrian collisions can help you watch out for red flags and take evasive action when needed.
Distracted Driving
This won’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s ever watched another driver, but distracted driving is an incredibly common factor in pedestrian accidents. We’ve all seen it when looking over at another driver: they have one hand on the wheel and eyes on the road, but every couple seconds, they look down at something on their lap. Phones are one of the worst distractions in modern society, and they play a role in many accidents. Pedestrians can avoid the risk of distracted drivers by making eye contact with a driver before crossing the street. This ensures that they have seen you and are stopping.
Failure to Yield Right of Way
A shocking number of drivers fail to yield the right of way to pedestrians. Pedestrians have the right of way at crosswalks and in many other scenarios, but that doesn’t stop drivers from barreling on ahead and going first anyway. Whether drivers fail to yield because they know pedestrians will stop for them, they don’t check for pedestrians before driving, or they are ignorant of state laws, they put pedestrians in danger. If a pedestrian has the right of way and assumes that a driver will stop for them, they can be left gravely injured when a driver doesn’t stop. These collisions are often the result of reckless and aggressive driving. Drivers who are running late are prone to making devastating errors in judgment that kill innocent pedestrians.
Speeding
Speeding is one of the most common factors in not just pedestrian collisions, but all traffic accidents. It’s inevitable; even those who generally follow the rules of the road and put safety first often find themselves going five to ten MPH over because everyone else is. The faster you’re going, the longer it takes you to stop and the harder it is to react to unexpected obstacles. That’s why the speed limit in pedestrian-heavy areas tends to be so low. City planners want to give drivers a chance to stop for pedestrians who pop out from in between cars or begin crossing the road with no notice. When everyone ignores the speed limit, the likelihood of a collision increases dramatically. Speed limits are not arbitrary. They are chosen by city planners after extensive research and analysis.
Infrastructure That’s Unfavorable to Pedestrians
Infrastructure that only favors standard passenger vehicles puts everyone else at a disadvantage, including pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorcyclists. While many Southern California cities have taken steps to make their cities as walkable as possible, California is a very diverse state. There are dense urban areas intended for pedestrians and bicyclists, and rural areas that can only be conveniently accessed by car. In urban areas, dense traffic, poor lighting, and limited crosswalks can be issues. In suburban and rural areas, you’re more likely to find streets without sidewalks, few walk/don’t walk signals for pedestrians, and limited lighting that makes it hard for drivers to see pedestrians at night.
Fight for Fair Compensation With the Pedestrian Accident Lawyers at DeWitt Algorri & Algorri
When a pedestrian is injured in an accident, they are often left with painful injuries, an unexpected loss of income, and significant trauma. It is crucial that you seek legal assistance as soon as possible after an accident if you want to protect yourself and your right to seek compensation. Take the first step in your claim right now—call the pedestrian accident attorneys at DeWitt Algorri & Algorri to schedule your free consultation. Just call 855-WINNING (946-6464) or reach out to us online.
Mark Algorri has successfully represented individuals and their families in matters involving serious and catastrophic injuries, insurance claims denials, and wrongful deaths, achieving a success rate of 99 percent for our clients.
